Expect a more powerful Mac mini Pro this fall

The 2018 Mac mini Pro is rumored to be much powerful than the "current" model, which hasn't been updated in almost four years. Photo: Apple

The last time Apple gave any love to the Mac mini was way back in 2014. But a refresh is reportedly coming.

This inexpensive macOS desktop is apparently popular with developers and server farms. The 2018 mini is supposedly being created with these professionals in mind.

The $499 base unit of the 2014 model has a 1.4 GHz (2.7 GHz Turbo Boost) dual-core Intel processor, which is decidedly obsolete these days. There’s 4GB of RAM and a 500GB processor.

The whole point of releasing new 2018 Mac mini versions is to improve on these specs. And given the new Mac mini’s supposed focus on professionals, the processors, RAM and storage capabilities could see significant upgrades.

The downside of this, according to Bloomberg, is that the refreshed models could cost more than their $499 predecessors. No sources were named.

Unlike Apple’s iMac line, the Mac mini is sold without a monitor, keyboard or mouse. And the whole package is quite small, hence the name. The current version is 7.7 inches square and 1.4 inches thick.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of an update coming this fall to this low-cost macOS computer. A few months ago, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also predicted a refresh for this fall.

Like the iMac Pro, but shorter

If this unconfirmed report is true, then Apple is copying its own 2017 strategy of releasing the iMac Pro. This took a previously consumer-oriented line of Macs and built in top-tier components.

The iMac Pro can be tricked out with a 3.2 GHz (4.2GHz Turbo Boost) Intel chip, with an option of up to 18 processor cores. It maxes out at 32GB of RAM and a 4TB SSD drive.

Of course, even the base model iMac Pro costs $4,500, raising questions about how pricey the 2018 Mac mini Pro could become.